Boat Rental Season is finally here!

Lake Crabtree County Park boat rental is back on May 11! We will have boat rental open on Saturdays and Sundays from May 11 - September 15 as well as on Fridays from June 7 - August 2. Check out our boat rental page for more information including additional holiday openings!

Updated Park Hours

Beginning on Monday, May 20th, Lake Crabtree County Park will close at 9:00 p.m. Remember that the lake closes 30 minutes before the park gates close, so please be off the water by that time.

The Library is on the go and at

the park!

Wake County Libraries will be visiting Wake County Parks all summer long and will be at Lake Crabtree from 10 am - Noon on May 29-31, June 3 & 5-7, July 31- Aug 2, 5, & 7-9. In addition to having their Bookmobile during these times, they will also be leading Family Storytime on May 29, June 3 & 5, July 29 & 31, and August 5 & 7 at 10:30 am each of those days! Check their website for a full list of events!

Watch the Model Yacht Regatta

Come view the Triangle Model Yacht Club Regatta on Saturday, May 18 beginning at 10 am here at Lake Crabtree County Park!

Valor Games

are back!

We are proud to host the Valor Games Southeast once again this year. As part of hosting this event for veterans and members of the armed forces with disabilities, the park will be closed to the public until noon on Thursday, May 23.

Check out some more boats!

Great Outdoor Provision Company is leading a On-Water Boat Demo on Thursday, May 23rd from 4-7 pm. They will be meeting by the floodplain beach next to the first parking lot in the park.

Join us at the Pollinator Festival!

Lake Crabtree is excited to host the Pollinator Festival, in honor of National Pollinator Week on Saturday, June 29th from 10 am - 2 pm. This event is FREE and features games, crafts, and opportunities to learn from local environmental experts. Also there will be two tasty food trucks to enjoy while you learn and have fun. Show up any time during the window from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Fun for all ages!

Crabtree Nature Crafts



Next time you bring the kids out to the park to enjoy the playgrounds and trails, be sure to stop by the Manager's Office for a free craft! Look for signs posted at the restrooms and playgrounds indicating that the craft is available that day (generally Mondays through Thursdays from 10 a.m. to noon). 

Each month we will feature a different craft and theme. This month's feature is a fun frog puppet!

UPCOMING PARK PROGRAMS 

Come out to Lake Crabtree and discover more about the natural world while exploring the park. Click the links (program titles) for more details and to register. Spaces are limited, so register today! Full programs are not always listed in the newsletter, but we encourage you to join the waitlist. For the full listing of all programs visit our website. All public programs are FREE!

Lake Crabtree also offers group programs! If your group is interested in booking a program, fill out the group program request form HERE.

Storytime for Tots: The Reason for a Flower Wednesday, May 1 from 10-11 a.m.

Flowers play an important role in the lives of plants, animals, and humans. Plants use flowers to make seeds; many amazing animals eat nectar and pollinate flowers; and humans enjoy their beauty and the fruits that many flowers become. Discover all these vital roles in a poetic and beautiful way in this month's Storytime for Tots program as we read Ruth Heller's The Reason for a Flower. Ages 18 months to 5 years old.

Birding with Vernon

Saturday, May 4 from 8:30-10 a.m.

Join our bird enthusiast, Vernon, for an easy walk while looking and listening for our feathered friends. Discover different types of birds and their habitats. Bring your own binoculars and field guides if you have them. Beginners and experienced birdwatchers are welcome! Ages 8 and up.

Intro to Kayaking: Session 2

Sunday, May 5 from 1-3 p.m.

Experience the thrill of kayaking – where you can effortlessly glide across the water's surface. Kayaking is an exciting water sport where you sit in a kayak and paddle your way through the water. Join our instructors as they introduce you to kayaking terminology, teach paddle techniques, and give you hands-on practice. Be prepared get wet and have a blast! Ages 14 and up.

Rain Barrel Workshop

Tuesday, May 14 from 6-7:30 p.m.

Build your own rain barrel! Participants in this workshop will take home a fully functional 55-gallon rain barrel with installation kit. These are the same rain barrels that retail for $99 and up! Workshops are limited to ten barrels, so reserve your spot now. One registration per barrel. Cost is $55 per barrel and participation is limited to two people per barrel (the person who signed up and one extra person to help). This event is being presented by "We Plant it Forward." Ages 18 and up.

Beginner Birding Class

Saturday, May 18 from 9 a.m.-Noon

What is the difference between birdwatching and birding? Birding with Vernon walk leader, Vernon Janke, will talk about the art of birding, and the tools and techniques you need to improve your birding skills. Discover why birding is one of the most popular outdoor activities, and use your new knowledge on a bird walk around the park. Ages 18 and up.

Homeschool/Track-Out: Turtle Time

Wednesday, May 22 from 1-3 p.m.

Join us for an engaging environmental education program where we will learn about the aquatic and terrestrial turtles in our area! We will learn through presentations, activities, and exploration.

Parents/guardians are welcome to stay for the program or drop-off. Ages 6 to 13 years old.

Lawn Games and Leisure Sports: Ladder Toss

Thursday, May 23 from 6-7:30 p.m.

Lawn games and leisure sports are a wonderful way to appreciate the longer days and warm weather. They are approachable for many age ranges and skill levels and are a fun addition to any picnic or family game night! Expand your repertoire of outdoor activities as we explore, strategize, and play leisure sports together. Join us each session to learn the rules, history, and etiquette of a new lawn game.

This time we will be learning the game of Ladder Toss. An easy, affordable game for lawns of any size and players of any skill level, ladder toss is popular for family barbeques and college yards. Come enjoy an evening of laid back fun at Lake Crabtree.

Ages 6 and up.

Nature Nerds: Insect Investigation

Friday, May 24 from 1-2 p.m.

Expand your knowledge of our local flora and fauna by exploring a different area of the park each month. Join park staff as they "nerd out" over a different group of animals, plants, fungi or other living things each month. Help collect data for our Biodiversity Project on iNaturalist while increasing your own identification skills.

This month we will be looking at the largest group of living creatures on earth, insects! We will use ID guides and Seek to help identify the six legged, hard exoskeleton, critters we find. Ages 6 and up.

WILD SIDE: Cicada Symphony

As summer approaches, North Carolina's forests and neighborhoods prepare for a cacophonous concert that only occurs once every 13 years: the emergence of the 13-year cicada brood. These remarkable insects, belonging to the genus Magicicada, spend the majority of their lives underground, feeding on sap from tree roots and undergoing a remarkable transformation. When the time is right, typically in late spring or early summer, they emerge en masse, covering trees, fences, and any available surface with their characteristic husks and filling the air with their distinctive buzzing calls. While we have annual cicadas in North Carolina, that are green and black and can be heard each summer, the eastern United States is the only area where the 7 species of periodical cicadas are found. Periodic cicadas either have a 13 or 17 year life cycle and have black bodies, red eyes, and orange wing veins.

The emergence of the 13-year cicada brood is a spectacle of nature that not only captivates the senses but also plays a vital role in North Carolina's ecosystems. As the cicadas emerge and molt into their adult forms, they become a plentiful food source for numerous predators, including birds, mammals, and even other insects. This sudden abundance of food triggers a feeding frenzy among local wildlife, providing a crucial boost in energy during the summer months and contributing to the health and vitality of the region's ecosystems.

Beyond their ecological significance, the emergence of cicadas is also a testament to the resilience and adaptability of these fascinating insects. Their synchronized emergence, occurring once every 13 years, is thought to be an evolutionary strategy to overwhelm predators with sheer numbers, ensuring the survival of enough individuals to perpetuate the species. As they fill the air with their buzzing calls and embark on their brief but intense mating rituals, the 13-year cicadas remind us of the intricate rhythms and cycles of life that shape North Carolina's natural world.